Diffusion-weighted MRI in Crohn's disease: Current status and recommendations

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Gastroenterology
• Radiology

Background:

• Technological advancements enable high-quality diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the bowel.
• DWI is a promising tool for Crohn's disease (CD) detection and characterization.
• DWI may serve as an alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the literature on DWI's value in Crohn's disease.
• To assess DWI for detection, characterization, and quantification of CD activity and complications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) studies in Crohn's disease (CD).

Main Results:

• DWI shows promise for detecting and characterizing lesions in CD.
• Apparent diffusion coefficient quantification may serve as a biomarker for CD activity.
• Growing evidence supports DWI's utility, but further research is needed.

Conclusions:

• DWI is a promising technique for evaluating Crohn's disease.
• Further well-designed, multicenter studies are necessary to establish DWI's clinical role.
• DWI may offer an alternative to contrast agents in CD management.